Fan Fiction Name: Justice League: Songs of the Multiverse
Chapter Name: Detours, Part One
Info: The League is well aware of the existence of the variety of universes beyond their own. However, the barriers between the worlds begin to fall one by one, and the League is faced with a serious question: Can their combined might face the onslaught?
Disclaimers: Batman, Superman, the Justice League, and the like do not belong to me, but to the people at DC Comics. This is considered Fair Use under the legal codes regarding copyright. In other words, don't sue!
Note: The first version of was admittedly full of problems, so I (hopefully) fixed most of the problems and gave the you, the readers, something a little extra at the bottom of the chapter.
Chapter Four: Detours, Part One
The machines beeped at a normal rate, telling whoever was nearby that the person attached to the life support was normal, but unconscious. The last person to come by, a superhero by the name of Dr. Mid-Nite, had said that the trauma wasn't physical. It was all in Karas head. That was something that he couldn't help with while she was still out cold. The medical staff had to wait until she was conscious until they could make any kind of diagnosis as to her condition and refer her to the right on-location psychologist.
Billy was surprised by the fact that there was a psychologist working at the Metro Tower, although in hindsight it made sense. Every one of the heroes, himself included, had seen terrible things during their tenures as heroes. Deaths, murders, suicides, and other terrible acts. Not everyone can see the horrendous things these people had and not come out scarred.
Especially what this Kara went through. And especially with the terrible things she had seen.
It's weird. After what Billy found out just over an hour ago, he should be a little distrustful of this woman. She never told him that they had been engaged to be married. Married! The word was foreign and cumbersome to his tongue. The closeness, the intimacy that the word entails, it's something that he never really could comprehend. He had been alone for most of his life, with only Freddy (and later Mary) changing that when he got into grade school. The thought of him becoming so close to this Kara in the other universe seemed to jar him more than learning about what happened to him in the other universe.
"Kara, you need to wake up soon. You have some serious questions to answer," Billy said solemnly to the young woman lying in the bed next to him.
- - - - - -
The communique that Batman had sent Question told the faceless man that Batman had some serious plans. It looked almost as if the Outsiders would get their first mission soon, so not long after Question got work from the Dark Knight he made his way back down to that forlorn storage area again. After making his own preliminary sweeps (one can never be too careful) he walked through the door quickly and shut the door behind him. As he moved in, he moved his hand up to his ear and tapped on the communicator.
"Question to Batman. Outsider Business," Question said, and no more than a second after he pressed the communicator, the familiar feeling of being pulled apart at the seams and reappearing. His eyes couldn't make anything out of the gloom that was now surrounding him. His ears perked up ever so slightly to what sounded like construction nearby. After a quick scan showing a dimly colored...er...warehouse, Question made his way to the source of the sounds, which was obscured by a stack of heavy crates. After going past the crates, Question came upon a rather curious sight that, if he wasn't a superhero, would have hopelessly confused him greatly.
The small gaggle of heroes who he had met when the Outsiders were first created were each hard at work with a variety of random works, all surrounding a menacing metal circle that was currently being worked on by two of the heroes he had met just days before.
"Dammit, Metamorpho! I need support here, where the power coupling is supposed to go! Your holding on to a connection port to the computer!" came the irate voice of Blue Beetle, chastising the man who was supporting an unfinished piece of the circle. Metamorpho looked at where he was holding, then adjusted his hold and slowly shifted his arms to move his grip to another, less fragile, place.
"Sorry, Beetle. I'm not much of a computer guy, I didn't know," Metamorpho said hastily, adjusting himself to help support the piece. Blue Beetle turns his attention back to the metal, sparks flying from where the mans hand-held welding torch bit into the two separate pieces of metal he was sitting next.
"No problem, man. I'll just get Firestorm to reconfigure the structure of the plug, then we're almost done," the blue-clad man responded, his attention back on the circle. Question looked on curiously at the business at hand, but a series of soft footfalls behind Question told him there was someone walking up behind him.
"Question, Batman wants you in the computer room. Behind me, and to the left," came a sharp, but oddly feminine voice from behind him. Question turned and looked upon the woman who he had seen before.
"Hrm. Thanks..." Question began, but he became silent when he realized that, with all his information, he didn't know just what this womans name was. He simply shrugged and began walking towards in the direction that the woman had pointed him. He immediately turned around and looked at the people in the room. There were...four of them. Out of the normal...six. He was five...where was the last member? With Batman?
His question was answered as a deep, unfamiliar voice wafted from the room in question, showing a large amount of cynicism.
"Well...I don't think this is the best idea. I mean...I know my way around physics, but this is not the best idea. I mean, tampering with the multiverse? Isn't that unsafe?"
Question rapidly closed on the room, which was slightly less dim than the warehouse as a whole. Once he came in, he immediately walked up behind the two men who were turned towards a table with a stack of papers (most likely blueprints) on it. Both men seemed not to notice him, and thats the way that Question liked it.
"Unsafe? Possibly. But we need to go to another universe. We were lied to, and I need to know why," Batmans rough voice seemed even more willful then usual, if that was even possible.
"A multiversal lie? I've looked over the logs and have them memorized. I don't know where this lie came from, then. What are you talking about?" came Black Lightnings voice again. Internally, Question was analyzing his voice, trying to find clues to what the person was like. So far, he didn't care much for the man: the tone of his voice suggested a highly educated man, most likely in an Ivy League school. The manner in which he talked pointed to the fact he wasn't comfortable with not knowing something told him Question this man was most likely used to dealing with concrete numbers and facts, leaning him towards some kind of academic. The lack of jargon meant someone only generally educated, and that leaned to...
"He's talking about something that he may have only caught recently...something that may have to do with the new white clad hero flying around, I'm guessing," Question said from his position. Black Lightning jumped and spun his head to glance at the shorter man, while Batman didn't budge.
"Yes, Question. Do you remember the name of the man who led the resistance against the Justice Lords," Batmans' voice came, serious and prodding.
"Power Girl claimed his name was Matches Malone. It doesn't seem likely, seeing as it is an assumed name for a minor thug back in Gotham. Why is that important?" Question asked, revealing most his information while holding something back. There was something odd about the information he got about Malone. He seemed to simply blink in and out of the Gotham underworld, and often for short amounts of time. While finishing his sentence, he moved to the side opposite of Black Lightning.
"Matches Malone is me. I use that name when I need to dig up dirt subtly. If this other person was the Matches Malone of that universe, then that universes Batman is Matches Malone," Batman said, his voice barely controlling the anger he had. Question, just by hearing that then knew why they were going.
"More than just 'internal affairs', huh? What are we supposed to do when...," Black Lightning started warily, looking towards Batman. Batman didn't respond, however. Question himself looked over to where the Dark Knight was standing and saw an empty space.
"I wish he would stop doing that," Black Lighting muttered before turning back to the blueprints that lay on the table.
- - - - - - - - - -
Question was sweating heavily by the end of the day.
He wasn't used to getting sweaty this way. Most of the time, he would get so involved with a lead he was following that he would forget just how hot it would get around him, and he would nearly pass out because of the lack of water. He rarely got sweaty because of out-and-out manual labor, because he was normally spending too much time on his actual job to get sweaty in this manner.
It was certainly the first time he also got sweaty building a hyper-dimensional gateway designed to punch through the walls between the universes to confront a Batman who had helped the Justice Lords take over the world in question, then with little prompting from this worlds Batman, completely turned on them.
That's why he's getting sweaty...in a nutshell.
"The gateways almost ready. Everyone except Blue Beetle and Firestorm, report to me," came Batmans' commanding voice boomed over the communicators. Question reached down to grab his discarded trench-coat and fedora and began to replace them as he made his way to where Batman had called them, all the while using the opportunity to stretch out his aching arms and legs. After his stretches, he unceremoniously shoved his hands back into his pockets while he made his way to the office, most likely to get the final word on just what was going to happen here. When he arrived, Batman began.
"We have a mission that will start in about ten minutes. The mission will be three pronged with four operatives participating plus myself, with two operatives to the first two and the third will be with all four operatives. I will join you once the third prong is underway. I will be gathering information on my own, so no contacting me unless you are in dire straits. Is this understood?"
"Where exactly are we going?" Question asked, his annoyance showing with the tone of his voice. He's been working nonstop for, sweaty under the pseudoderm mask, and he didn't have all of the information. He was irritated as hell as it is, and with Helena rubbing off on him he was more than a little irate at the Dark Knights muddiness in explanations.
Batmans infamous glare showed itself for a second, then turns his attention to the rest of the group.
"...as I was about to get to before Question preempted me, team one is just casual information gathering. I want to know just what has happened in the time between our visit and now. The second team will try to get into contact with any kind of League or another organization to see just how the world as a whole has gone. Last is to confront that universes Batman, to get some answers. Both about our new friend Power Girl and just what he had to do with the Resistance in that world."
"Team One will consist of Katana and Question. Team Two will consist of Metamorpho and Black Lightning. Blue Beetle and Firestorm will stay behind and monitor our progress," Batman finished. Question's attention went quickly from Katana (so that was the womans name. He must make sure to remember this) then to the other team members. However, before anything could be gatehred from the reactions of the other Outsiders members, a loud (and obviously excited) voice carried from the other room.
"Ah-HA! Batman! I got it working! I GOT it!"
"Looks like our rides here," came the assured voice of Metamorpho.
- - - - - - - - - -
As Question surveyed the scene in the warehouse waiting for the gateway to open, he couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. Here they were, a group that was supposed to be focused on the internal affairs of the Justice League, and they were about to go hunting in another universe in order to try and figure out just what happened in the time before they got there.
It made Question feel uncomfortable. Why was he going to another universe when this one had so many questions that needed to be answered, particularly about them. They wouldn't stop their plotting just because he was outside of the universe. They just would lay down and...
His thoughts were immediately trampled by what almost sounded like distant thunder as the gateway began to slowly push open and reveal the way to the other universe...to the Justice Lords universe.
The Question was a superhero. He had fought parademons, other superheroes, the government, and even the conspiracy itself. But this, staring into the swirling bright energy in that arch...it was the closest he had gotten to actually hesitating...to actually allowing the well repressed emotion of fear to actual make his steps threaten to falter.
It's a feeling he hadn't felt in a long time...and it's disconcerting.
"I'll go in first. Everyone else, follow me, now!" came Batmans command as he charged through the arch. True to form with none of the hesitation he had felt when first looking upon the power arch, Question jumped through in a flash of light immediately after, with the rest of the team close behind.
As he jumped, however, he thought he heard something that Blue Beetle had said. It was only a faint echo by the time he had jumped in, but the ramifications of what was said were chilling.
"No...no...no! Power surge!"
- - - - - - - - - -
The rhythmic beeping of the machines attached to Kara continued to sing as Billy sat, not once moving in the hour and a half he had been there. He was determined to stay there until she woke up for those answers he wanted, but as he waited he was mulling over why she hadn't told him. Was she afraid that he would reject her if she told him? Was she worried what his reaction would be? Why had she not-
"Oooooooooooooohhhhhh," came a soft sigh from the bed. Billy immediately looked up and saw that Kara was waking up, her eyes fluttering as her hand slowly to her head. Her eyes seem unfocused at first, but after a second she brought herself up and oriented herself. After a second, she looked around and saw Billy, her tension melting away.
"Are you feeling better? What happened to you?" Billy asked softly, his hand subconsciously resting on hers as he moved the chair closer to her bed. She looked almost incredulously at him, then began to giggle softly.
"Good ol' Billy. Always caring about others more than yourself. That's what I loved about you,"Kara said distantly, her eyes glistening. Billy moved closer still, his hand still strongly gripping the back of hers.
"J'onn said that, when he was in your head, he found out that we were engaged. Why didn't you tell me?" Billy asked seriously, looking straight at Kara. Kara, in turn, turned her head away from him. After a few seconds, she responded.
"Imagine what that would have been like. 'Hey, I loved you in another universe and we were supposed to be married. At least, until the Justice Lords all but lobotomized you and and took away a good two, maybe three years of my life'. I mean, how do you think someone would take it if you told them that, Billy?"
Well, it made sense to Billy. Why would he, after knowing all he knew, simply go to another universe where he had absolutely no actual relationship to that person, and say "I loved you there. Would you love me here"?
Well, simply saying that they were close would make more sense.
"I'm...I'm sorry about your Billy. I...I just know how to help you with it. I mean, I'm just me," Billy said softly as his face crept down to the face the bed, feeling terrible that he couldn't do more for Kara. A firm hand placed itself on his chin and pulled it up. Kara smiled deeply, her eyes showing deep emotion.
"My Billy or not, all I need is you," she said (seeming more to herself than anything else), before moving closer and pressing her lips against Billies. Billy didn't fight it, turning against any kind of issues he had with intimacy and closeness and pressed back enthusiastically, reveling in the closeness and the feeling and the taste and the...
- Flash! -
Billy was feeling so much pain. Normally, as Captain Marvel, he wouldn't have felt a damn thing. Bullets, bombs, swords, even magic has a very hard time wounding the Worlds Mightiest Mortal.
It's not every day that someone survives a nuclear blast at point blank range. It's also not everyday that someone has the capability to survive such a blast, either. But that's why he was the Worlds Mightiest Mortal. Billy tries to move, but again his body rebels at the movement. The Wisdom of Solomon tells him he is most likely covered in large radiation burns and would need to turn back to normal to heal everything back to normal.
If only his mouth decided to start moving again...
"Marvel! Marvel! Where are you? Marvel!" came a familiar voice, but it sounded so far away. Kara. The lovely girl who was now the subject of his current crush. She was so lovely. Very, very lovely. Was he hearing her? Did the blast knock him silly to the point that he was hearing things? Why was he hearing...
Slowly (and painfully) he opened his eyes and saw a white blur making his way to him quickly. Oh...she was heading towards him. She must have seen him.
"Marvel! You okay? Good lord, you were right next to Captain Atom when he...he...that wasn't the Justice Lords, was it? Oh God, Cadmus killed him, didn't they?" She said hysterically, her eyes darting b up and down like she was making sure he was in one piece
"Yeah...sucks...Need...you...move...back" Marvel said, coughing savagely with every words coming out.
"Sh, sh, sh, you need to conserve your strength, Marvel. You need to be careful. I don't want you captured like Plas...okay? Just...keep it together, please? You're hurt really, really bad," Kara said, her voice nearly panicked and not once taking heed to what he said.
"Back...Kara...now..." he managed to choke out, and with a light shove Kara was pushed back about five feet. In her shock, she seemed unable to comprehend what happened and didn't move. So, Billy took the initiative to act.
"Sha...zam," came the magic word, and true to nature the lightning bolt came from on high and the wounded, ailing Captain Marvel was turned into normal, everyday William Joseph Batson, better known to those around him as Billy.
"Kara, we need to get out of here. They would know that we're here. We need to go, now!" Billy says, trying to sound authoritative (and most likely not, since he's just some little 13 year old talking to a woman almost four years his senior). Kara nods, dumbfounded at what just happened. Duh! She didn't know that Billy transformed into Captain Marvel, so she would be very surprised by that fact. Kara quickly moved to support his (rather slight, as he was dismayed to notice) weight, then looked at him.
"I'm glad your okay," Kara said, then leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the lips. Billys face immediately began to flush a generous shade of crimson, but he gripped tightly to Kara as she began to lift up and away in the cool Nevada air, all the while a warmth began to blossom from deep inside his chest.
- Flash! -
Billy pulled away from the kiss with Kara, his attention now firmly on the memory that had just flooded into his consciousness. He then looked at Kara herself, her face showing her concern. What the hell...? Billy thought, very much confused.
"Billy? What's wrong?" asked Kara, the concern
"Was...was our first kiss just after the battle with the Lords?" Billy asked, trying to gauge her reaction. And judging by just how she looked, Billy would stand to guess that she was confused as hell over what he just said.
"What...how...there's no way that you could know that! How would...oh, God! That's what he meant! That's what Batman meant when he said that!" Kara exclaimed, no longer confused but now very worried. Billy gripped her hand, which got her attention and drew her now frightened expression to his.
"What did Batman say, Kara?" Billy asked seriously.
"He said that whole multiverse was collapsing, Billy! The whole multiverse!"
- - - - - - - - - -
As Question oriented himself after the jump through the portal, one of the first things he noticed was the fact that the architecture he was looking at didn't look anything at all like the traditional (if any of it could be called traditional) architecture of Gotham. Looking around, he saw that the others were also equally confused by their unusual surroundings.
"This...this isn't Gotham? Where the hell are we?" came Black Lightnings voice from behind him.
"Hrm," Question responded. He was still a little disoriented from what happened, but as he looked around to get his bearings his attention was drawn skyward. What interested him skyward wasn't to see if he could recognize any of the buildings (which he didn't) but because some rapid movement that drew his attention upwards.
It was a woman, dressed in white robes that seemed oddly reminiscent of the old roman togas he saw in history class, but with an odd green marking on it. When she stopped, Question was able to determine what the symbol on her chest was.
It was a green shield.
Damn, Question thought. There was only one place in the records where a green shield like that was documented. It was the universe that Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Flash, and J'onn visited with all the old comic book characters. Question swore more when the woman he saw looked downwards and noticed the motley group of heroes standing there.
"Company," Question rasped out as he moved closer to the shadows. The woman came in quickly, taking a position that Question could only guess to be the way out.
"All right, what would a colorful bunch a' blokes be wandering about in Seaport City this time a day lookin' like you bunch," the womans voice said, a heavy British accent marking her speech. "Now, I suggest you boys come wit' me, less you get a beam o' green magic up yer arse."
Damn.
- - - - - - - - - -
A/N: Well, here comes a hint as to just what is happening in the next chapter, plus the introduction of a group that I have been wanting to use. This is going to be one hell of a roller coaster, so everyone's going have to hold on. It'll be a bumpy ride!
Add-on - I found a bunch of problems that were serious. I'm going to remove the chapter and re-institute it with the changes. Sorry! I'm also, as a little bit of a consolation, going top start inputting previews of the next chapter. Most of the time, it will be just a sentence, but the first one here is going to be a little more.
As Billy managed to orient himself from the onslaught of sound that had just occurred, the smoke began to clear. Billys watery eyes were unable to make out details because of the smoke, but he clearly saw four outlines within the smoke. Two of the figures were tall and lanky, another tall but heavyset. The fourth one, however, was small and curvy, telling Billy that it was a woman.
"Well, we're here Brainy. What next?"